State Loan and Investment Board Approves Grant Requests

The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) approved $10,524,105 in Business Ready Community grant requests at a meeting Thursday in Cheyenne.

According to a news release, the board approved requests for one Business Ready Community (BRC) Business Committed application, six Community Readiness applications, and five Community Readiness Downtown Development applications.

The Wyoming Business Council administers the BRC program, which provides the financing for publicly owned infrastructure that serves the needs of businesses and promotes economic development within Wyoming communities.

The Business Council Board of Directors is required by statute to forward all BRC recommendations to the SLIB for final approval. During its December 2013 meeting in Cheyenne, Wyo., the Business Council board made funding recommendations to the SLIB. Among the Community Readiness applications approved:

Casper-Natrona County, Wyoming Economic Development Joint Powers Board requested a $999,953 Community Readiness grant to construct a 30,000-square-foot speculative building that will be expandable to 60,000 square feet. (SLIB approved in full)

Laramie County requested a $1 million Community Readiness grant to construct a 4,354-square-foot medical clinic and pharmacy building that will replace the current 2,300-square-foot facility in Pine Bluffs. (SLIB approved in full)

Among the Community Readiness Downtown Development applications approved:

Casper requested a $1 million Downtown Development grant for the reconstruction of a two-block area along the Yellowstone Highway. (SLIB approved in full)

Cheyenne requested a $562,248 Downtown Development grant and an $187,500 BRC Downtown Development loan to construct an elevated walkway from the city owned, Jack R. Spiker Parking Facility, across Pioneer Avenue, to the second floor of a proposed hotel.(SLIB approved in full)

Torrington requested a $957,830 Downtown Development grant for a three part project. The project will renovate the façade and remodel the former Our Clothing Store, a 12,000 square foot retail building located on Main Street. (SLIB approved in full)